In recent years, many people living in South Korea have shared a common feeling: the traditional four seasons are becoming less distinct. The pleasant spring and autumn seem to pass in the blink of an eye, replaced by long, hot summers and cold, dry winters. This significant change in seasonality is not accidental, but the result of a complex interplay of environmental and climatic factors.
✅ The Dominant Role of Global Warming
The primary driver of the shortening of spring and autumn in South Korea is global warming. According to data from the Korea Meteorological Administration, South Korea's average annual temperature has shown a clear upward trend over the past few decades.
1. Continuously Rising Average Temperatures: Rising temperatures directly lead to earlier spring warming and a longer duration of hot summers, compressing the traditional spring transition period.
2. The Boundary Between Winter and Summer: The start and end times of meteorological summer (five consecutive days with an average daily temperature above 20°C) and winter (five consecutive days with an average daily temperature below 5°C) are shifting towards both ends, significantly compressing the spring and autumn seasons in between.
✅ Changes in Ocean Circulation and Atmospheric Patterns
South Korea's seasonal changes are strongly influenced by surrounding ocean and atmospheric circulation patterns.
1. Strengthening of the Pacific High: In summer, the Pacific High system strengthens and expands its influence, leading to a significant increase in the duration of summer heat waves and directly impacting the autumn season.
2. Anomalous Arctic Oscillation (AO): Abnormally intensified temperature and pressure changes in the Arctic region (such as the AO) make the transition from autumn to winter abrupt and short.
✅ Increased Urbanization and Urban Heat Island Effect
South Korea's highly concentrated urbanization also contributes to the shortening of seasons, particularly in major cities like Seoul and Busan.
1. Heat Storage and Release: High-density buildings, asphalt roads, and concrete structures in cities absorb large amounts of heat during the day and release it slowly at night, creating a significant "urban heat island effect."
2. Raising Urban Baseline Temperatures: This artificial "warming" effect causes spring and autumn temperatures in urban areas to rapidly rise to summer/winter levels, further blurring seasonal boundaries and making spring and autumn feel shorter to city residents.
The shortening of spring and autumn in South Korea is an undeniable fact, a result of the combined effects of global climate change and regional environmental factors. This reminds us that global warming is a real challenge profoundly
